Folding stool



2 Sheets-Sheet -1.. A SMITH FOLDING STOOL.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

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INVENZ'OH y MW . A Tram/tr.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. SMITH. FOLDING STOOL.

No. 487,200. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

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IINrrno STATES ATENT Orricn.

ANDREW SMITH, OF SALEM, OHIO.

FOLDING ,STOO L.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,200, dated November 29, 1892. Application filed January 11, 1892. Serial No. 4171700. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, ANDREW SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Stools; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in folding stools; and it consists in certain peculiarities in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts thereof, substantially as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved stool adjusted for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the seat-cover removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the stool folded. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the movable sleeve and means for holding the same in its raised position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the means for pivoting the immovable sleeves together and for pivoting uprights thereto. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the manner of securing the supports at their outer ends, and Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the immovable sleeves. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved stool extended for use.

A A designate two sections of tubing, having heads (I. a at their adjacent ends, said heads being hinged together at 5. These heads have a series of radial openings or recesses d, which receive the ends of wire supports or uprights f. Around the outer periphery of each of the heads is a groove 0, which receives a wire fiwhich passes through perforations in the ends of the supports f and pivotally secures the same to the heads.

E designates a movable sleeve on each section of tube A A. These sleeves E are movable vertically on said tubes and are each provided with radial recesses 01" openings e, similar to those formed in the heads a a and also with a groove e around its outer periphery, said recesses receiving the adjacent ends of a series of wires or rods f, which are pivotally secured to the outer ends of the uprightsf, as shown at f Fig. 6, and they are also secured to a cord or chain e, which extends around the top and bottom, respectively, of the stool by means of a wire or other suitable means f The cords or chains e prevent spreading of the parts and give the stool stability. To secure the movable sleeves in their upper and lower positions, respectively, I provide two pawls g, which project through slots 71., formed in the tubes A A. These pawls g are each pivoted at one end to the inner wall of a tube, and at the inner side of its opposite end it is loosely secured to a rod I, which is received by one of the tubes A A, and has at its outer end ahead or enlargement 1'. Each of these rods I is partially revoluble and when turned in the proper direction will draw its pawl inward out of engagement with a sleeve, and thereby permit the latter to be adjusted on said tubes to fold the sections of the stool.

J-designates a short section of tubing,which is formed with aligned slots j, through which passes loosely a pin L, secured to the tube A a suitable distance from the bottom thereof. When the tubes A A are brought together with their vertical openings in vertical alignment with each other, this tube J will drop by gravity so as to lie partly within the lower end of the upper tube A and partly within the upper end of the lower tube A, thereby making the sections a. a rigid. To further lock the sections, aspring-latch M is provided, said latch being secured at one end to one of the immovable sleeves and having at its opposite end a projection m, formed with inwardly-bent ends designed to engage the upper and lower sides, respectively, of said immovable sleeves a a.

To fold the stool,the same is inverted,which causes the tube J to drop, so as to be located entirely within the tube A. The rods I are then turnedso as to draw the pawls 9 within their respective tubes out of engagement with the sleeves E E, thereby permitting the latter to be moved along the tubes toward the heads a a, said sleeves E E in their movements carrying the rods f with them, which latter draw upon the supports f and cause the same to occupy a position substantially parallel with the tubes A A. The forward end of the spring-latch is then sprung outward out of engagement with the heads a a, after which the sections A A are turned upon the hinge b to a position substantially parallel with each other.

The stool is provided with a covering N, of leather or other suitable material, which is sewed or otherwise suitably secured to said chain e.

What I claim is 1. In a folding stool, the combination of the tubes A A, havingheads upon theiradjacent ends, said heads being hinged together at one side, pivoted supports, means for operating said supports when the stool is to be extended for use or folded, a tube J within one of said tubes, said tube J having aligned slots, a pin passing'loosely through said slots in tube J, whereby the latter may drop by gravity so as to partially project within the other of said first-mentioned tubes, and a springlatch engaging said heads.

2, In a folding stool,the combination of the tubes A A',heads on the adjacent ends of said tubes, said heads being hinged together at one side, a tube J within one of said first-mentioned tubes, said tube J having aligned slots, a pin passing loosely through said slots, movable sleeves on said tubes A A, a series of rods f, projecting from each of said movable sleeves and pivoted at their inner ends thereto, series of supports f, each support being pivoted at one end to the outer end of the adjacent rod f and at its opposite end to the head of the adjacent tube, and means for holding said sleeves in position when the stool is extended for use.

3. In a folding stool, the combination of the tubes A A, having heads upon their adjacent ends, said heads being pivoted together at one side, pivoted supports, means for operating said supports when the stool is to be extended for use or folded, a tube J within one of said first-mentioned tubes, said tube. J having aligned slots,and a pin passingloosely through said slots, all substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

4. In a folding stool, the combination, with a tube having a head, a movable sleeve on said tube, supports pivoted to said head, and rods pivoted at their respective ends to said movable sleeve and to said supports, of a rod within said tube and a pawl operated by said rod, said pawl having one end pivoted to said tube, the inner side of its other end loosely secured to said rod, and the opposite side of said other end adapted to project through an opening in said tube into engagement with said sleeve.

5. In a folding stool, the combination, with the tubes A A, having heads on their adjacent ends, said heads being hinged together at one side, movable sleeves on each of said tubes, a series of rods f,projecting from each of said sleeves and pivoted at their inner ends thereto, and rods pivoted at their respective ends to said rods and heads, of means for securing said tubes together when the stool is extended for use, a rod within each of said tubes, and pawls operated by said rods, each of said pawls being pivoted at one end to said tube and having the inner side of its other end loosely secured to the adjacent rod and the opposite side of said other end adapted to project through an opening in the tube into engagement with the adjacent sleeve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature this 24th day of October, A. D. 1891.

' ANDREW SMITH. [L. s]

In presence ot' CHARLES LARGE, M. E. HARRISON. 

